Automatic mail and package deliverer.



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I A .TORES? N-\o.834,775., PATENTED oc'ri 30,1906.

' H. w. YAIL.

AUTOMATIC MAIL AND PACKAGE DBLIVERER.

' APPLIOATIUH FILED AUG. 17, 1906.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

JNVENTOR 7n: nouns PETERS cm. wnnmemn p. I;

, PATBNTED OCT. 30, 1.90s.

7 H. w. VA IL. AUTOMATIC MAIL AND PACKAGE DBLIVERER.

4 APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 1908.

2 BHfiEilS-BHEET 2.

TTORNE Y5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

Application file l August 17. 1906. Serial No. 331.088.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY W.. Van, a citizen of the United States, residing at Macomb, in the .county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Automatic Mail and Package Deliverer, of which the following is. a specification.

Th 's invention relates to mechanism for handling mail, and more particularly to mechanisrnof that general class employed for delivering and collecting letters, packages, and other mail-matter on rural mail routes.

The object of the invention is to provide a car or carriage mounted for travel on an overhead cable' or track and adapted to automatically deliver the incoming mail to and collect the outgoing mail from the several boxes or receptacles along the route.

Aifurther object of the invention is to provide means for automatically elevating and lowering the overhead track or cable as the car travels between the several stations along the route, thereby to maintain the car in a horizontal plane and in position to automatically deposit and collect the mail at the different boxes or receptacles.

A further object is to provide a cable-supporting hanger movable to operative position by the weight of the car and means operatively connected with the hangerfor automatically elevating the lattertafter the passage ofthe car at any particular station.

A still further object of the invention is to provide ar mail-handling apparatus possessmg the special advantages of economy of construction, durability and efficiency, and capable of performing its work more rapidly and more effectually than. has heretofore been attained.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may beresorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a mail-handling apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the cable or track depressed and the car in position to deliver the mail at one of the receptacles or boxes along the route. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the car or carriage in position to automatically engage the lid of the adj aoentmail-receptacle. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the car or carriage and a portion of the adjacent mailreceptacle. Fig. t is a transverse sectional view showing the interior construction of the car and also the mail-box. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the mail boxes or receptacles.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The device consists of a plurality of spaced posts or standards 5, embedded or otherwise secured in the ground at s aced intervals along the route and to which are secured adjustable hangers 7, carrying an overhead track or cable 8, upon which is mounted for travel a suspended car or carria e 9.

The hangers 7 are mounte for vertical movement in suitable casin s or housings 10, secured to the posts 5, an; each consists of an angularly-dls osed arm 11, having one end thereof rovided with a bracket 12, the face of whic is concaved for the reception of the cable 8, while the opposite end of the arm is provided with avertical extension 13, having a terminal hook 14 for connection with chain or other flexible medium 15.

The chain 15 passes over a pulley'16, j ournaled in the top of the standard 5, as shown, and is thence extended downwardly and connected to a sliding weight or counterbalance 17, so that when the car 9 has traveled beyond any particular post the weight'17 will move the cable 8 to elevated or inoperative position, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thereby permitting the assage of wagons and other vehicles beneatffthe cable without danger of coming in contact therein.

The cable 8 is preferably secured to the bracket 12 by suitable staples or eyes 18 and is movable vertically with the hangers to elevated or inoperative position by the counterweight 17, as before stated, the arm of said hanger being mounted for sliding movement .in a slot 19, formed in one wall of the housing 10, thereby to prevent lateral movement of said hangers.

The car or carriage 9 consists of a rectangular body portion having one end thereof pointed, as indicated at 20, and provided with a longitudinally-disposedfender or actuatinglip 21, adapted to engage and automatically open the pivoted lids or doors 22 of the mailreceptacles 23 when the car travels past the posts or standards 5.

. The mail boxes or receptacles 23 are supported in any suitable manner on the standards 5, and the pivoted lidsthereof are formed with upwardly-extending lips 24, which engage the fender 2 1, there being suitable springs 25, secured to the hinges 26, for automatically closing the doors or lids 22 when the carriage enters an adjacent section of the track.

' The car 9 is suspended from the cable 8 by suitable rods or supports 27 provided with terminal rollers 28, which bear against the cable, said car being preferably propelled electrically in the usual manner.

Extending transversely across the compartment 29 are stub shafts 30, carrying sprocket-wheels 31, which operate a suitable belt or endless conveyer 32. Secured to the belt or conveyer 32 are a plurality of boxes or com artments 33, each provided with a pivoted lid or closure 34, normally held in closed position by a coiled spring 35 and adapted to contain the letters, packages, or other mail-matter to be delivered to the boxes or receptacles along the route. Secured to one of the stub-shafts 30 is a ratchet-wheel 36, the teeth of which are'engaged by a suitable pawl 37, pivotally mounted at 38 ona lever 39, carried by the adjacent stub-shaft 30'and extended through an opening in the bottom of the car or carriage, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

v Secured to the bottom of the car or carriage at a point adjacent the opening 40 is a block 41, having an inclined or cam face 42, adapted to-engage the levers 43, carried by the pivoted lids 34, as the boxes-33 are rotated within the compartment, thereby moving the lids 34 to open position and, permitting the mailmatter within said boxes to be delivered to the boxes or receptacles 23, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

' It will thus be seen that theinitial movement of the car or carriage will cause the.

fender 21 to engage the lips 24 of the mail-receptacle 23 and automatlcally open the doors 22, a further movement of the car causing the lever 39 to engage the adjacent edge of the receptacle 23, thereby moving the lever rearwardly to the dotted position. (Shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.) As the lever 39 moves rearwardly the boxes 33 travel downwardly with a stepby-step movement to the opening 40, the levers 43 successively engaging the cam-face 42 and automatically 0pening the lids 34, thus permitting the mail to be discharged through the opening 40 in the car into the receptacle 23. As soon as the car passes the rece tacle 23 the spring 35 will automatically clbse the lid 34 of the box 33, while the spring 44 will return the lever 39 to vertical position, and in which position the succeeding box 33 will automatically engage ally elevate the cable, as best shown in Fig. 2

of the drawings.

I Secured to the top of the car or carriage 9 is a box or compartment 45, adapted to receive the outgoing mail discharged from an auxiliary mail-receptacle 46, secured in any suitable manner to the standard 5. or compartment 45 is provided with pivoted The box lids or closures 46 each having one end thereof deflected upwardly, as indicated at 47, for engagement with an actuating-arm 48, extending laterally from the standard. 5, said doors beingnormally closed by suitable coil-springs 49, fastened in any suitable manner to the interior walls of the compartment, as shown. The auxiliary mail receptacle or box 46 is mounted on a bracket 50, extending laterally from the standard 5 and is preferably formed of two telescopic sections 51 and 52, mounted for rotation on a suitable shaft 53, to which is secured a lever 54.

The lever 54 extends in the path of movement of a cam 55, secured to one of the rods or supports 27 of the car 9, so that when the cam 55 engages the arm 54 it will rotate the section 51, and thus permit the outgoing mail in the auxiliary compartment to drop into the compartment 45 of the car, so that the same may be carried by said car to the postoflice for delivery.

It will thus be seen that the arm 48 by engagement with the lips 47 will automatically open the lids of the compartment 45, so that when the cam 55 engages the lever 54 and opens the auxiliary receptacle 46the mail in said receptacle will drop into the compartment 45.

The lever 54 is referably provided with a counterweight, wiereby the section 51 will automatically return to closed position after the passage of the car, the springs 49 also serving to close the lid 46 of the compartment 45 as soon as the arm 48 is disengaged from said lid.

It will of course be understood that the cars may be made in different sizes and shapes and that any suitable motive power may be used for propelling said cars.

From the foregoing description it is thought that theconstruction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed istus, anoverhead track, a:.car mounted for travel on said track and movable with the latter to lowered position by the weight of the car, and means for automatically elevating the track at predetermined intervals.

2. In an automatic mail-delivering apparatus, an overhead .traek, a ,car' mounted for travel on said track and adapted to depress the'lattenand means'for automatically elevating the track at predetermined intervals.

3. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, a plurality of spaced standards,'hangers slidably mounted onsaid standards, a track carried by the hangers, a car mounted for travel on the track and; adapted to depress the latter, and means operatively connected with the hangers for automatically elevating thetrack at predetermined intervals.

tus, a plurality of spaced standards, hangers slidably mounted on the standards, a track carried by the hangers, a car mounted for travel on the track and adapted to depress the latter, and counterweights operatively connected with the hangers for automatically elevating'the track at predetermined intervals.

5. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, anoverhead track, a plurality of mailreceptacles disposed along the track, a car mounted for travel on the track and adapted to automatically open the receptacles, means for lowering the track at said receptacles to permit the passage of the car, and means for automatically elevating said track.

6. In automatic mail-delivering a paratus, an overhead track, a plurality 0 mailreceptacles disposed along the track, a car mounted for travel on said track, an endless cable arranged within the car and provided with a lurality of compartments for automatical y delivering the mail to said receptacles, an auxiliary mail-receptacle, and means carried by the car for actuating the auxiliary receptacle thereby to deliver the mail to the car, 1

7, In automatic mail-delivering a paratus, an overhead track, a plurality 0 mailreceptacles disposed alon the track, a car mounted for travel on sai track and having an opening formed therein, an endlessv cable arranged within the car and provided with a plurality of compartments adapted to successively register with said openings for automatically delivering the mail to said receptacles, a mail-receptacle carried by the car, an auxiliary mail-receptacle, and means carriedby the auxiliary receptacle for delivering the mail from the latter into the receptacle on the car. I

8. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, a plurality of spaced standards, verticallyadjustable hangers secured to the standards, an overhead track mounted 011 4. In automatic mail-delivering appara-' said standards and movable therewith, mailreceptacles carried by the standards and provided with spring-actuating doors, a car mounted for travel on the track and adapted to automatically open the doors of the receptacle, means disposed within the car for automatically delivering mail to said receptacles, a mail-box carried by the car, and

"an auxiliary.mail-receptacle secured to the standard and disposed above the main receptacle for: automatically delivering mail to the car. a

g 9. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, a plurality of s aceu standards, a horizontally-disposed ca le connecting the standards and mounted for vertical movement thereon, mail-receptacles secured to the standards, a.car mounted for travel on the cable and adapted to depress the' cable at said mail-receptacles, means carried by the car for automatically delivering maillto the receptacles, and means for elevating the cable.

10. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, an overhead cable, a plurality of mailreceptacles disposed at spaced intervals along the cable and provided with springactuating doors having terminal upwardlyextending lips, a car mounted for travel on said cable and provided with a fender adapted to engage the li s for automatically opening the doors of t e receptacles, and means disposed Within the cars for autonliatically delivering the mail to the recepta- 0 es, r

11. In automatic mail-delivering a para tus, an overhead cable, a plurality 0 mail receptacles disposed along the cable and rovided with spring-actuating doors the en s of which are formed with terminal upwardlyextended lips, a car mounted for travel on said cable and provided with a fender adapted to engage said lips for opening the doors of the receptacle, an endless belt mounted for rotation within the car, a plurality of mail-boxes carried by the belt, and a lever associated with the belt for moving the mailboxes with a step-by-step movement thereby to permit said boxes to successively discharge the mail into the receptacles.

12. In automatic mail-delivering a paratus, an overhead cable, a plurality 0 mail-' receptacles disposed along the cable, a car mounted for travel on the cable, an endless belt disposed within the car, mail-boxes carried by the belt, a cam secured to the car, le, vers carried by the mail-boxes and adapted to engage the cam for successively opening said boxes, and a lever associated with the 'belt for rotating the latter with the step-bystep movement.

13. In automatic mail-delivering a paratus, an overhead cable, a plurality'o mailreceptacles disposed along the cable, a car mounted for travel on said cable, an endless &

belt arranged within the car and carryin a plurality of mail-boxes each provided wit a pivoted spring-actuating lid, there being a discharge-opening formed in the bottom of and adapted to engage the mail-receptacles for moving the belt with a step-by-step movement thereby to successively discharge the mail in the boxes through said opening into the mail-receptacles.

14. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, a plurality of standards, a verticallymovable cable supported by said standards, main and auxiliary mail-receptacles secured to the standards, a car mounted for travel on the cable for automatically delivering mail to themain receptacles, a mail-receiving compartment mounted on the car, and means carried by said car for actuating the auxiliary receptacle thereby to deliver the mail to the car.

15. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, a plurality of standards, an overhead cable supported by said standards, main and auxiliary mail-receptacles secured to the standards, said auxiliary receptacles being formed of pivotally-united telesco ing sections one of which is formed with a aterallyextending arm, means carried by the car for delivering mail to the main receptacle, a mail-receptacle mounted on the car, and a cam secured to the car and adapted to engage the car, and a lever associated with the belt the arm for actuating the auxiliary receptacle thereby to deposit the mail in the receptacle on said car.

16. In automatic mail-delivering apparatus, a plurality of standards, an overhead oable mounted on the standards, main and auxiliary receptacles secured to said standards, an arm extending laterally from the auxiliary receptacle, means carried by the car for antomatically delivering mail to the main receptacle, -a mail-receptacle mounted on the car and provided with a spring-actuated cover adapted to engage the arm for moving the cover to open position, and means carried by the car for actuatin the auxiliary mail-receptacle thereby to deliver mail from the latter to said car.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY W. VAIL.

Witnesses:

E. D. GoBLE, L. B. VOSE. 

